1 of 5

Austen Izzio, 5, and Cade Lee, 11, celebrate after Lee slid home for a Blue Devil’s run against Hattiesburg. Photo by Taylor Welsh

Tristan Schlottmann hits a walk-off single in previous action against Picayune. Photo by Taylor Welsh

Trenton Lee scoops a ground ball at second base before throwing an out on the run in previous action this season. Photo by Taylor Welsh

Eli Lee swings for one of his four home runs of the season in previous action. Photo by Taylor Welsh

Hayden Dunhurst won the 5A All-State Player of the Year behind his 10 home runs and state championship title with Pearl River Central. Photo by Taylor Welsh

Both 5A baseball programs in Pearl River County filled eight slots in the 5A All-State baseball first and second teams. Also, the 5A All-State Player of the Year came from within the county.

The 5A MHSAA State Champions produced four 5A All-State first team players on this year’s roster, including sophomore Hayden Dunhurst who won the 5A Player of the Year.

Dunhurst was a key factor in getting Pearl River Central (28-12) to Jackson with a batting average of .306, .644 slugging percentage, 37 hits, involving nine doubles, a triple and 10 home runs. He led the Blue Devils with 45 RBIs in the 2016-17 season.

PRC senior pitcher Cade Lee also fills a spot on the 5A All-State first team with his versatile performance on the mound and at bat.

Lee went undefeated on the mound during his senior year. Before beating Hattiesburg in game three of the south state championship, his last game was game three of the state championship series against Oxford, mounting his record at 8-0 on the season.

“His leadership shows in so many ways on and off the field,” PRC Head Coach Neil Walther said after that final State Championship game. “His teammates play with such a purpose behind him; they want to win for him. He’s a special kid.”

Lee completed the season with a 2.15 ERA, 55 strikeouts for 65 innings pitched while conceding only 16 walks and 20 earned runs. He finished his Blue Devils career beating district foe Hattiesburg 7-4 in game three before hoisting the state championship trophy after pitching the team’s 7-3 game three victory against Oxford.

Lee also ended the season with a .243 batting average, .406 on base percentage, 25 hits, 15 RBIs and 24 runs.

Another 5A All-State first team dynamic player who heavily contributed to PRC’s success is first baseman and clean up hitter Eli Lee. Along with being a reliable catch at first base, Eli Lee also led with his bat. He landed a team-high of 51 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and four home runs, along with 32 RBIs, 30 runs, a .389 batting average and a .452 on base percentage.

The last 5A All-State first team player representing the two schools in the county is the Blue Devils third baseman and second batter in the state champion’s lineup, Austen Izzio.

Izzio had an outstanding season for the Devils, cashing in his first home run of his career as a grand slam to push PRC past Pascagoula 7-1 in a game three scenario during the first round of the playoffs.

Izzio rounded out the season with a .325 batting average, a .401 on base percentage, 38 hits consisting of a team-high 13 doubles, a triple and a grand slam home run for 21 RBIs.

Leadoff batter and centerfielder Tristan Schlottmann earned a spot on the 5A All-State second team with his performance at the plate as well as his swift base running ability. Along with a .320 batting average and a .421 on base percentage, Schlottmann led the state championship Blue Devils with 40 runs and 18 stolen bases and was second in total hits with 41, including six doubles, for 17 RBIs. His best game of the season came in PRC’s third game of the year against Pass Christian, in which he had a perfect performance at bat, going 3-3 for four RBIs to lead the Devils to a 16-6 win. He also was a huge factor in the team’s first win against West Jones in the second round of the playoffs after knocking two doubles in PRC’s 4-0 victory.

Picayune’s Trenton Lee also made a 5A All-State second team appearance with his leadership on the mound as well as his ability to jump start the Maroon Tide at bat, Head Coach Cody Stogner said after Trenton Lee hit his solo home run of the season against Pass Christian along with a single for three RBIs.

“Trenton is the type of player every coach wants on their team. With this being my first year at Picayune, he immediately bought into what I was coaching and that not only made it easier for me, but it helped this team come together,” Stogner said.

With his .444 batting average, .500 on base percentage, 36 hits, 25 RBIs and 11 runs, Trenton Lee will be taking his talents to Pearl River Community College next year. Lee was only struck out seven times in his 25 games this season.

Lee was also a presence in the infield, mounting 67 putouts and five assists for the Maroon Tide’s defense.